Police piece together final moments of NRL star's life

POLICE are tonight piecing together the final movements of Chad Robinson, the 36-year-old former NRL star whose body was found in the wreckage of a Subaru in bushland at Kenthurst this afternoon.

Electricity workers have discovered the body in the car at the bottom of a gorge, at about 12.30pm.

Robinson, who played for the Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters, went missing from his home in Crestview Ave, Kellyville, on November 26.

His body was found just 13km away near the intersection of Marieba and Porters roads in Kenthurst.

The family had been frantically worried, as he set off with no notice in his silver Subaru Outback, taking no phone or wallet with him.

They issued a number of appeals at police press conferences and via social media channels.

His younger brother, Tim, who is a Cronulla Sharks prop, called for help in finding Chad.

"I'm lying in bed, I'm trying to get some sleep and all I'm thinking is, 'what's he doing right now, where is he, where did he go?', '' Tim told The Sunday Telegraph earlier this month.

Robinson's sister, Monique Brennan, took to Facebook at the end of November calling for public assistance in finding Robinson.

"We are in need of assistance," Ms Brennan wrote. "Our brother Chad has gone missing since last night ... He has no phone or wallet. If anyone comes across him or the car, could you please contact any of the family or police."

A post-mortem examination will officially determine how Robinson died.

Initial inquiries suggest there are no apparent suspicious circumstances and police will prepare a brief for the Coroner.

He transferred to the Roosters in 2002, the year the eastern suburbs team won their first premiership in 27 years.

Robinson came off the bench to help the Sydney club win the World Club Challenge decider against St Helens.

He stayed another two seasons with the Roosters, playing 70 matches all up and scoring six tries.

In 2005, he headed west again, chalking up nine tries in 81 appearances before signing off with Parramatta in 2008, the year he earned a rep jersey with City NSW.

Coached by NRL mentors including Ricky Stuart, Brian Smith, Michael Hagan and Jason Taylor, Robinson was a rugged, no-nonsense player, once rated by former Test forward Craig Fitzgibbon as "the best forward at the Roosters" in 2003.

Right now, those great days seem so long ago as a devastated family and rugby league community grieve at the news of today's discovery in Kenthurst.